91.7%
Abu Aardvark: "what the Iraqi people want"
The bottom line: 91.7% of Iraqis oppose the presence of coalition troops in the country, up from 74.4% in 2004. 84.5% are "strongly opposed". Among Sunnis, opposition to the US presence went from 94.5% to 97.9% (97.2% "strongly opposed"). Among Shia, opposition to the US presence went from 81.2% to 94.6%, with "strongly opposed" going from 63.5% to 89.7%. Even among the Kurds, opposition went from 19.6% to 63.3%. In other words, it isn't just that Iraqis oppose the American presence - it's that their feelings are intense: only 7.2% "somewhat oppose" and 4.7% "somewhat support." Maybe there are reasons for keeping American troops in Iraq, but "it's what the Iraqi people want" really doesn't seem to be one of them.
(Via Informed Comment.)



Comments
Of course, if such statistics reflected the sentiments of all those Iraqi's killed over the years - which is of course physically impossible to account for, but nevertheless a valid consideration on a human level - I'm sure the percentage would reflect universal opposition.
This should obvious. Right?
Posted by: melpomene
| August 31, 2006 1:29 PM | Reply to this comment
So are we a population without representation? Or are the votes rigged? This should also obvious. Right?
Posted by: Al Stuart | August 31, 2006 3:42 PM | Reply to this comment
Poll percentages may not be the best way to go. After all a majority of Americans believe literally in the bible, but we (hopefully) don't let them set education policy.
Posted by: orhan
| August 31, 2006 9:28 PM | Reply to this comment
These numbers come as quite a shock to me.
The way I see it, most of the Kurdish people in northern Iraq wouldn't even be alive today if not for the US intervening in the past. I know there have been problems with that relationship, but still, one would think the Kurdish ought to be a little more appreciative of the coalition's presence,
As far as the Iraqi poll numbers go, I also find that a little surprising.
The way I see it, coalition forces in Iraq seem to be the only thing preventing the country from tearing itself apart.
I think that the increase in sectarian violence also supports this. Instead of coalition troops being targeted, we're seeing a lot more fighting between the Shiite and Sunni factions.
The only thing preventing these two sides from starting a full blown civil war, and committing all out genocide against one another, is the presence of the coalition and regualr Iraqi forces.
Perhaps the coalition should withdraw their forces from Baghdad and other hot spots, then we'll see how much the locals need them.
Posted by: Valkesh
| September 5, 2006 1:56 PM | Reply to this comment
These numbers come as quite a shock to me.
The way I see it, most of the Kurdish people in northern Iraq wouldn't even be alive today if not for the US intervening in the past. I know there have been problems with that relationship, but still, one would think the Kurdish ought to be a little more appreciative of the coalition's presence,
As far as the Iraqi poll numbers go, I also find that a little surprising.
The way I see it, coalition forces in Iraq seem to be the only thing preventing the country from tearing itself apart.
I think that the increase in sectarian violence also supports this. Instead of coalition troops being targeted, we're seeing a lot more fighting between the Shiite and Sunni factions.
The only thing preventing these two sides from starting a full blown civil war, and committing all out genocide against one another, is the presence of the coalition and regualr Iraqi forces.
Perhaps the coalition should withdraw their forces from Baghdad and other hot spots, then we'll see how much the locals need them.
Posted by: Valkesh
| September 5, 2006 1:56 PM | Reply to this comment
These numbers come as quite a shock to me.
The way I see it, most of the Kurdish people in northern Iraq wouldn't even be alive today if not for the US intervening in the past. I know there have been problems with that relationship, but still, one would think the Kurdish ought to be a little more appreciative of the coalition's presence,
As far as the Iraqi poll numbers go, I also find that a little surprising.
The way I see it, coalition forces in Iraq seem to be the only thing preventing the country from tearing itself apart.
I think that the increase in sectarian violence also supports this. Instead of coalition troops being targeted, we're seeing a lot more fighting between the Shiite and Sunni factions.
The only thing preventing these two sides from starting a full blown civil war, and committing all out genocide against one another, is the presence of the coalition and regualr Iraqi forces.
Perhaps the coalition should withdraw their forces from Baghdad and other hot spots, then we'll see how much the locals need them.
Posted by: Valkesh
| September 5, 2006 1:58 PM | Reply to this comment
These numbers come as quite a shock to me.
The way I see it, most of the Kurdish people in northern Iraq wouldn't even be alive today if not for the US intervening in the past. I know there have been problems with that relationship, but still, one would think the Kurdish ought to be a little more appreciative of the coalition's presence,
As far as the Iraqi poll numbers go, I also find that a little surprising.
The way I see it, coalition forces in Iraq seem to be the only thing preventing the country from tearing itself apart.
I think that the increase in sectarian violence also supports this. Instead of coalition troops being targeted, we're seeing a lot more fighting between the Shiite and Sunni factions.
The only thing preventing these two sides from starting a full blown civil war, and committing all out genocide against one another, is the presence of the coalition and regualr Iraqi forces.
Perhaps the coalition should withdraw their forces from Baghdad and other hot spots, then we'll see how much the locals need them.
Posted by: Valkesh
| September 5, 2006 2:21 PM | Reply to this comment
These numbers come as quite a shock to me.
The way I see it, most of the Kurdish people in northern Iraq wouldn't even be alive today if not for the US intervening in the past. I know there have been problems with that relationship, but still, one would think the Kurdish ought to be a little more appreciative of the coalition's presence,
As far as the Iraqi poll numbers go, I also find that a little surprising.
The way I see it, coalition forces in Iraq seem to be the only thing preventing the country from tearing itself apart.
I think that the increase in sectarian violence also supports this. Instead of coalition troops being targeted, we're seeing a lot more fighting between the Shiite and Sunni factions.
The only thing preventing these two sides from starting a full blown civil war, and committing all out genocide against one another, is the presence of the coalition and regualr Iraqi forces.
Perhaps the coalition should withdraw their forces from Baghdad and other hot spots, then we'll see how much the locals need them.
Posted by: Valkesh
| September 5, 2006 2:37 PM | Reply to this comment
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